Panel discussion topics include: equity versus bootstrap
financing, deal structures for early-stage capital, how to attract angel
investors, making an investment pitch and how to run a company once you have
the start-up capital.

“It’s a deep dive into this process,” says BIG President and
CEO Terry Thorson Cox, who founded the organization in 2006.

BIG offers a peer network, leadership and mentoring support, and access to resources, capital and expertise to members, who Cox
refers to as “high-potential entrepreneurs.”

“They’re a bunch of one- to five-employee companies...that
will be eventually provide a lot of jobs,” Cox says.

Entrepreneurs who spoke at the 2011 annual event will offer
updates on their successes and failures raising capital over the past year.

Before the discussion on making the investor pitch, a
handful of up-and-coming entrepreneurs in the greater Charlotte area will give three- to five-
minute pitches. One speaker is Phong
Luong, co-founder of NexTable, an iPad app designed to help restaurants better
manage their reservations and front-of-house operations.

Luong helped develop the app out of a need he saw in his own
restaurant, Zen Fusion in Dilworth.

Learn more about Luong’s story in this week’s ShopTalk, the
Observer’s small business section, out Wednesday.

Thursday’s event is free for UNCC students and BIG members,
$25 for non-UNCC students and pre-revenue start-ups, and $65 for other guests
who purchase tickets in advance. Cost is $80 at the door.

Bill I am sorry you didn't get "your America back." Thank God we still have our America though. The president is for all the people and want everyone to be able to make it,if they try. Unlike Mr.Romney who was in it for himself, and a few right wingers. Did you see how fast he cutoff the staffers who was running his campaign? The same night he lost. He would have cutoff at least 47% of American the same way had he won. President Obama is on God's true side. That is why he is shown his favor by God. God blessed America by giving us President Obama.